Beaumont hospital staff is wonderful and I think their facility is stellar; let me first say that while I'm thinking over my stay there. They have three shifts of two nurses per day that each come in and introduce themselves, and write their phone numbers on my room's dry erase board to be at my beck and call. This also equals a lot of people poking, prodding, wiping, changing and inspecting me. If I every had any modesty issues they are gone now. Those went out the door the first day when I had to be walked to the bathroom by a nurse who held my catheter and IV line aside while I wobbled over, fluids gushing just after standing up (this actually scared Mitch quite a bit; he thought I was hemorrhaging and might die-it was a lot!), changed my garments for me and washed me up. I really was quite incapable of doing anything, including feeling embarrassment or anything other than complete respect and adoration for this lady whom I was completely dependent on in that moment.
After the surgery, we all were taken into a recovery room which was a transitional room before the final recovery room I'd spend the next 3 nights in. Mitch went to go get Janet and Damie. Janet came in with tears and was the second person to hold Elba. Then Damie held him for a bit too. At this point I was still very numb and even my left hand was pins and needles. I wasn't allowed to hold him yet. A nurse came in and helped me breast feed. She sort of held him above me, holding his head above my breast. Not quite the way I'd imagined it, but still within the half hour they recommend. The rest of Tuesday we all just enjoyed our new arrival, all taking turns holding and cuddling the baby. I was put on morphine and was really thirsty. I was only allowed to eat ice chips and sip water because I guess after taking out pieces of your insides and putting them back in it takes a little while for things to work again. Well, I ate too many ice chips and ended up throwing up a bit. I told the nurse this because I'm honest and wanted them to know in case it was important. I told her was only a little bit and had a lot to do with me sitting up and moving around too quickly also. She said okay and helped me to the bathroom. I was almost back to my bed when I puked again...but a lot more than a little. The ice chips and water were taken away from me until the next day. :(
I couldn't wait to get home to sleep because I hardly did any of that in the hospital. There is constantly someone coming in to check on you, instruct you, give you papers to sign, check the baby, etc. Between that and the feedings and changings of me and baby...it was exhausting. Elba hated the plastic crib thing that he was supposed to be put to sleep in, so at night I had to hold him. Only you aren't allowed to fall asleep with the baby in bed so there was no sleeping for me.
Elba took well to nursing, except that he would stop and pull back sometimes to only suck on the nipple after a while, which yields sore, bleeding nipples. This had just started when I then also became engorged. Elba didn't eat almost all day when my milk came in because of the circumcision. This was a very frustrating day for both of us. He couldn't quit latch and I didn't know what to do. This was in the middle of the night when he finally wanted to each so the lactation consultant wasn't there. The nurse did her best to help me and suggested I pump and cup feed him. This worked reasonably well, but I was concerned with a longer term solution.
We opted to participate in the Michigan Infant Screening (the heel stick) where they test for a bunch of different things. I was surprised they didn't take him out of the room for this. Mitch and I both had a hard time while they stabbed and squeezed the heels of our baby boy. I definitely got to hear his 'pain' or 'scared' cry which was different than his 'hungry' cry - I had to go into the bathroom because I started to cry. There were also a few other moments these first days that I cried; just looking at my son brought on some tears of happiness.
Thanks to everyone that came to visit in the hospital! Grandma Toni and Grandpa Tom came into town Thursday night to visit and were taking Damie back with them to Chicago Friday. Friday was a hectic morning and afternoon for me as I was getting everything ready, waiting for the cracked out lactation consultant that proved to be useless to come, and needing to take the first bowel movement otherwise they were threatening me with a suppository. I was being cranky with Mitch and just wanted to go home. The sweating also had started so I was feeling gross and wanted to just get home, shower and relax! We checked out by 12:30, said our goodbyes and I was in the car heading home with our new bundle. I cried on the way home too; a good cry, not a bad cry! :) What an emotional experience.
Weight at home - 241.5 lbs
No comments:
Post a Comment